The Verdict is In: Why Apple's C1 Modem Was Rated as "Terrible"

Apple took a significant step this year by introducing its first in-house modem for mobile devices, the Apple C1. The key piece of hardware debuted with the iPhone 16e. This move signals Apple’s long-term ambition to reduce its reliance on external suppliers like Qualcomm for critical components. However, early analysis suggests the journey might be rockier than anticipated. Apple’s C1 modem was recently rated “terrible” due to poor performance compared to Qualcomm’s.

Analyst slams Apple’s C1 modem “terrible” or bad performance compared to Qualcomm’s

Recent performance tests already have hinted that Apple’s new modem lags behind Qualcomm’s solutions. Now, a deeper dive into the C1’s architecture by tipster LITTERTREE66, who shared detailed die shots, reinforces these concerns. Their analysis of the modem’s PPA (Power, Performance, and Area) was blunt, labeling it as “terrible.” A machine-translated post from Weibo captured the sentiment starkly: “Except for save energy, it has no advantages, and I hope that the C2 will have a surprise.”

One of the main problems of the modem is the lack of mmWave support. According to well-known tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple wanted to integrate mmWave 5G support into the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem. This technology is crucial for achieving extremely high 5G speeds in dense environments like stadiums and city centers. However, Apple reportedly struggled to implement it without severely impacting power consumption. This likely led to its exclusion from the C1.

Apple C2 modem could address many shortcomings

Looking ahead, reports suggest Apple’s next modem, provisionally named the C2, will address these shortcomings. Expected improvements include better power consumption, enhanced transmission speeds, and—finally—mmWave 5G support. The C2 is even rumored to appear in the iPhone 18 Pro models, potentially replacing Qualcomm’s modems in Apple’s flagship devices.

According to reports, Apple aims to surpass Qualcomm’s modem performance by 2027. However, the current state of the C1 indicates that there’s a lot of work pending to achieve that ambitious goal. In the interim, the current Apple C1 modem might find its next home in an upcoming entry-level iPad.

The debut of the iPhone 16e also marked a rebranding of Apple’s budget-friendly iPhone SE line. This change, directly linking the “e” models to the current main iPhone generation, sparks speculation about annual “iPhone e” releases. If true, it will be interesting to see which modem Apple opts for in a hypothetical iPhone 17e in 2026. This ongoing modem development saga is certainly one to watch for anyone following the tech industry.

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